The need for recognition or somesuch

[Kett]

I feel it is more of an "in the script" sort of thing. When you have someone watching a television show, especially catching someone flipping through the channels who stops for the first time, the writers/scriptwriters seem to feel some overkill is needed so that the new viewer understands what that person represents in the show. I doubt those persons in real careers are quite so covered in shirts, jackets, hats and badges displaying who they are.

I'm not a writer or scriptwriter and have nothing to do with the television industry, just my $0.02 worth.

[Nighthawk]

I feel it is more of an "in the script" sort of thing. When you have someone watching a television show, especially catching someone flipping through the channels who stops for the first time, the writers/scriptwriters seem to feel some overkill is needed so that the new viewer understands what that person represents in the show. I doubt those persons in real careers are quite so covered in shirts, jackets, hats and badges displaying who they are.

I'm not a writer or scriptwriter and have nothing to do with the television industry, just my $0.02 worth.

I have a friend in the local Denver S.W.A.T. who proudly wears a t shirt that says "We get up early to beat the crowd."

[macwilkin]

This thread reminds me of DI Grim on The Thin Blue Line who was always wanting an "American siren" for his car, much to the chagrin of Inspector Fowler (Rowan Atkinson)!

T.

[Streetcar]

First, you must remember that television (especially CSI and the like) bear little resemblence to reality.

Officers not in uniform (at least in the states) need to have POLICE, a badge or some other notification highly visible to the public in case they need to take enforcement action. This way the other person can't say "I didn't know he was a police officer."

Having said that, I know very few detectives who go THAT over the top. Occasionally a new CSI officer or negotiator will show up on scene with tons of that sort of "official" gear, but they end up being the butt of some good-natured ribbing.

[gilmore]

I don't know about buttons and badges, but organizational affiliations are prominently displayed in colors that contrast to the background----usually white on dark blue---in order to distinguish quickly and clearly who is with which agency, especially in confusing situations that involve large numbers of cops and criminals, such as raids.